1
2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
tensions mounted until the people rose up in rebellion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in family
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor
introduced my new boyfriend to my people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants
a science-fiction novel about a mission to people Mars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of people
Lizbeth Diaz, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
At least 19 people died in protests in Nepal’s capital and other cities, after rage over a social-media shutdown and corruption led to violent clashes between the police and young demonstrators.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The Editors, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
Our ancestors peopled the most lonesome reaches of the globe, from Hawaii to Easter Island, in the span of just a few thousand years.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for people
Plural noun
In February, more than 40 people were killed in southern Mexico when a bus traveling to Tabasco from the tourist city of Cancun hit a trailer truck and caught fire.
—Lizbeth Diaz, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
At least 19 people died in protests in Nepal’s capital and other cities, after rage over a social-media shutdown and corruption led to violent clashes between the police and young demonstrators.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Colonies founded by charters to private companies and peopled by restless dreamers gave us an entrepreneurial spirit from the outset.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
Our ancestors peopled the most lonesome reaches of the globe, from Hawaii to Easter Island, in the span of just a few thousand years.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for people
Recent Examples of Synonyms for people
Verb
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In San Francisco, a development called Hunters View built in 1956 to provide temporary workforce housing was still inhabited and badly deteriorating by the early 2000s.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Once inhabited by some of the city’s wealthiest families, Troost was the target of restrictive covenants in the early 20th century that drew a distinct line of separation.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Just around the corner, about 210 students populated Johnson Elementary on a campus meant for 480.—
Mila Koumpilova,
ProPublica,
9 Sep. 2025
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Today, almost every Apple device—or indeed, most of the smart devices populating our workplaces and homes—draws its intelligence from Arm's innovative chipset architecture.—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“People.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/people. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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